Friday, January 1, 2016

Day five of my nine day giveaway! art i made in 2015 :)

May the coming year hold abundant blessings for you and loads of room for creative expansion!

Welcome to Day 5 of my nine day giveaway, a massive celebration for a massively magic year!

Today I share with you some of the art I created in 2015 and to be honest when I started collating images for this post I had to pick myself up off the floor when I saw what I had actually managed to paint while on tour.

Looking forward to a slightly different painting experience in 2016 with more studio time and less paints sprawled out on hotel floors time....

Most of the large works I completed this year were the demo paintings I made during the twenty workshops I taught across the planet.....its not an easy task to teach and paint at the same time...

and not every painting ends up a total success but I'm totally ok with that and actually think its an awesome thing for my students to be aware that painting is a process not a formula and it isn't always easy!!

of the forty or so demo paintings I made on the trip these are my fave three...from Houston

France

and North Carolina

Right before we left on the trip I completed this large commissioned piece (6x3') titled the Gifts of Incandescence which I had the best time painting!

Looking forward to working on this scale again now that I'm back in my studio for a few months :)

This little ellie above I painted last week and he might be on his way to your home as yesterdays giveaway prize. Leave a comment here to be in the draw!

Out of necessity I worked on lots of small pieces as we moved from lovely hosts homes to hotel rooms, spreading my paints out where I could and finding inspiration along the way.

I enjoyed the challenge of working smaller and loved knowing that these little beauties found homes across the world :)

the ellies followed me wherever I went and a few owls and sheep joined in the fun!

Early in the year I played with some monotone ink sketches. I LOVE working in this way and this will definitely be an ongoing series!

I also continued my exploration in more abstract pieces, using my palette often as a the jumping off point....

This one I especially loved!

I continued to learn more about apps, playing on my iphone and ipad as we travelled, merging images of my paintings with photos and words and experimenting with effects. Such an awesome way to spark even more inspiration for future paintings and I've loved incorporating some of these app possibilities into my lates Mini Mojo ecourse Pattern. Color. Texture!

Towards the end of the year I embarked on a thirty day painting challenge inspired by my dear friend Judy Wise. I still have a few days to go but the act of painting on the same canvas for a thirty day period has cracked has opened creative magic in myriads of ways. I highly recommend it. The images above are a little glimpse into the unfolding painting and you can see Judy's post on her challenge here.

I was so honored to be a feature artist in 2015 for Cloth Paper Scissors with a regular column Art Mojo!

It was sometimes challenging to write and document the articles and tutorials while on the road but in the end I managed to complete them all and I am so grateful to the wonderful Jeannine Stein (editorial director of CPS) for such an amazing opportunity and for being uber patient when I went over deadline several times!

My last painting for 2015 was this gorgeous goddess, who appeared out of nowhere on a 30x30"canvas that I really thought was destined for the rubbish.

She's available so let me know at info@tracyverdugo.com if you'd like more info on purchasing.

Huge thanks to the wonderfully talented Pauline Agnew who freed me up big time when I took her Expressive figures and faces ecourse last month.

Hope I am not too late to win that class spot! Thirty day challenge sounds awesome I adore Judy Wise myself she is so multilevel talented! Hugs, Sanna.PS:Thanks for this chance and for sharing every amazing thing you accomplish!

Dear TracyAmazing paintings, I love your teaching style I learned a lot from your personality and I'm gratuful for that! I feel really lucky to find you, you changed my life last year, so inspiral what you do.Just shine as you always do!Happy creative New Year and your helping family.

You are SUCH an inspiration! It IS hard to teach and paint at the same time but with your awesome flow you seemed to pass right over that. I love your goddess you thought was destined to be no good =) Just goes to show that even what you perceive as bad art always has possibility. Some of my personal favorite paintings of mine have been one's I thought were awful but went back and worked on them, changed them sometimes over a year later!! =) Thank you for sharing your journey Tracy!!

You are SUCH an inspiration! It IS hard to teach and paint at the same time but with your awesome flow you seemed to pass right over that. I love your goddess you thought was destined to be no good =) Just goes to show that even what you perceive as bad art always has possibility. Some of my personal favorite paintings of mine have been one's I thought were awful but went back and worked on them, changed them sometimes over a year later!! =) Thank you for sharing your journey Tracy!!

I am a Huge fan of you and your gorgeous work! Just getting back into painting again after about 33 years away from it, I would love to explore this course with you! Thank you for all of the inspiration you provide All of us with!

Unbelievable that you could travel so much and create such amazing art all the more! I love the idea of working on the same piece daily. No goal of finishing, but a perpetual painting:) I'm totally doing this!

Wow is all I can say, Tracy. Your body of work is amazing and I really admire how patient you are when painting with inks. This is something I find hard to do, but is one thing I plan to work on this year. I'm only now getting into a meditative place with painting and can't wait to enjoy the stillness of just "being" and watching the ink and/or paint flow and settle where it may. Thanks for all the inspiration. Bev Sparks

Hi Tracy! Your paintings are so full of life + joy + a sense of adventure! What a treat they are. You have done incredible things + have been blessed to witness so many lives that have been transformed by the healing powers of art. God is working through you, Tracy! Thank you always for sharing your heart + art with us. With love + light, your friend Martice.

Hi Tracy! I keep wondering where you get the time from to make these wonderful pieces!! But I am beginning to suspect that we're talking about taking time and not getting time... I love those smaller paintings and am so much looking forward to finishing the work I have in progress, who knows it might even turn into something fascinating! A mini mojo course would definitively come in handy! !

Hi Tracy! I keep wondering where you get the time from to make these wonderful pieces!! But I am beginning to suspect that we're talking about taking time and not getting time... I love those smaller paintings and am so much looking forward to finishing the work I have in progress, who knows it might even turn into something fascinating! A mini mojo course would definitively come in handy! !

I love your work Tracy. It inspires me to dream of painting. I have collected all my materials, but making that leap from dreaming to actually creating seems to be the hardest part. Deep down I know it's ok, and I understand art making is like exercising a muscle and practice makes 'perfect' (I use that word lightly, because I don't believe perfection is the ultimate goal, but interesting, aesthetic and appreciated are probably more my ultimate goals). Must. Start. 2016. In the meantime, I love to keep seeing doing what you do, and thank you for sharing your beautiful work and your stories with us all.

The more I learn the more I realise how much more I have to learn. But the process is so much fun and I love a challenge with a big dollop of adventure on the side. Would absolutely love to be a part of the pattern class Tracy! Thank you xxx

So cool. I love you paintings. They really show how much time you take with them and dedication you have for them. I'm would like to spend more time dedicating time to my creative process too this new year.

wow, all I can think is wow. I got your book for christmas and I've just done mark making, making meaning and am so happy happy with some of my little paintings. Seeing all your wonderful expressive work is such an inspiration and I can't wait to get my mojo going. :)

Wow...all your art is amazing!! I was really intrigued by the monochrome pieces. I'll have to watch for that class. Would love to win a spot in your texture class too!!! Excited to see what 2016 brings my way in growing as an artist. Health and art will be my focus! Paulette

Hi TracyIt is always a pleasure to see your painting. I wouls be hapy to win this workshop, since I just got retired 2 weeks ago, just starting to get used to my new Freedom. I am so happy I will have more time for creation, painting and fun.Happy new year !

Love seeing your work and following your journey! Such an inspiration! I so enjoyed your e-class it was the best e-class I have ever taken! I would love to join in your next class colors and textures sounds so yummy! Happy New Year!

Hi Tracy, Finally! Found it! I keep wondering what it is about your art that appeals so much to me. My spirit. I look at it all with child-like wonder. Love the colors, your subjects, just delighted with what you do! Does my heart good. Brilliant, beautiful work. Just in love with your art. Also, I found your music. You've got a great set of pipes---you sure can sing! Love your voice!!

I love seeing so many of your paintings in one blog post...so amazing that you've created all of these in just one year! I am especially fascinated to see where/how the 30 days of painting all on one canvas turns out. Hope you will show the process at some point all together. Your use of color just blows me away and I would love to win the mini class with you. Thank you for sharing so much in your blog.

Oh my gosh.. I pinned soooo many pieces of art I hadnt seen here.. for inspiration.. my heart and eyes are filled with joy and happiness just viewing.. it is a long awaited passion of mine to take one of your many classes.. heck.. ALL OF THEM.. lol.. who am i kidding.. your use of color and texture.. ur vision is.. contagious.. wow.. shared on pin, twitter, fb and pinterest

Oh My Gosh! I went through your photos again, and I noticed something that I didn't notice before. Marco is in bare feet in the Abby Road photo! And what's so crazy, is that I had to find the original photo and for the first time, realized that Paul was in bare feet. Good one! And thanks for my new ahhhhh moment lol.

Took me a minute to find the comment section...I've been following your work for awhile and absolutely love it! I've signed up for 2 of your mini classes and am so excited..thanks for blessing us with these mini classes!

Really love the retrospective on a year's worth of making! Definitely something I think every artist needs to do at some point in their lives! You new mini Mojo class sounds lovely so I hope I get lucky!

My dear awesome, wonderful, talented, creative friends! It's that time of the year again, a time for recaps and reflections.......

When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy. ~Rumi

Followers

sweet words from students :)

Dear Tracy,

I have had such an amazing response to your workshop. It has gone far beyond the painting of a picture. You have an incredible , supportive and intuitive energy that is contagious. Teaching others about freeing yourself up, from the ever present ‘critical mind’, is life changing. I am so inspired by your wonderful workshop. I have been applying simple messages from the day into my everyday life, and the roller coaster of life is so much richer and exciting with the knowledge of letting go and trusting in the process. This wonderful painting (that I have hung above my computer) reminds me every day that life always has a way of working out for the better if we just let go.....

Your way of teaching is subtle, yet powerful, and you guide others to discover for themselves important insights. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to be a part of this very special day

~Vanessa

Thanks again Tracy for such a wonderful, colourful, transformative, powerful, peaceful weekend.....I really see how much I get caught in detail and perfection and beautifying and how this has it's value but as you pointed out to me, if I'm feeling like I'm tensing and tightening up with this then move the energy, shift and also be bold to make big changes if things aren't working! That's a big one. But this is life, nothing ever stays completely the same does it!SO yes thanks SO very much for your colourful, loving, gentle yet powerful and generous sharing on the weekend. Looking forward to journeying more with you creatively and in friendship.~Katie